Australia's Big Move: Social Media Lockout for Teens

Australia has made a bold move by banning social media for users under 16. This is the first time any country has done this. Many popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are now removing accounts of users who are too young. If they don't follow the rules, they could face huge fines.

Challenges and Exceptions

There have been some problems with the ban. Some teens under 16 have managed to pass the age checks. The government knows it won't be perfect right away. Most platforms have agreed to follow the new rules, except for X (formerly Twitter). Bluesky, a smaller platform, has also decided to ban under-16s, even though it was considered low risk.

Parental Reactions

Parents have mixed feelings about the ban. Some are worried their kids will be left out of social events if they can't use these apps. Others are happy because they think their kids are too addicted to social media. The prime minister compared this ban to the legal drinking age, saying it's about setting clear standards.

Global Attention

Other countries are watching Australia's move closely. Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway are interested in doing something similar. The European Union is also considering similar rules. The Australian government will check how well the ban is working and make the results public.

Teenage Response

There are concerns about what teens might do next. They might move to other platforms or find ways to bypass the ban. Some teens have even started sharing their phone numbers publicly before their accounts are shut down. Snapchat has warned them not to do this.